Zhejiang University Throws Spotlight On Teachers
Challenging, stimulating, thrilling, fun. These are the common feelings of watching live sports games. Anyone who has actually watched exciting Olympic Games will surely dream of a signed photo of the cup winners, yet not all of us has the chance to see a world champion in life. However, here in Zhejiang University, students are accessible not only to some world champions, but also to several invigorating classes set up by those shining stars. In this series of ZJU’s world-champion teachers, let’s spotlight on their stories.
XU Yaping: Step by step, day after day
XU Yaping is an international-level athlete who has won sprint kayak world championship. During the athlete career, she has taken part in great competitions like Canoe World Cup, Olympic Games and National Games of PRC, reaping eight gold medals in total. In 2011, Xu joined ZJU as a teacher, being the first in China to teach kayaking, canoe polo, SUP (standup paddle board) yoga, rowing, dragon boat and other paddle-sports in university.
Xu’s championships come from nowhere but her unremitting efforts. Casting a backward glance, XU stressed the significance of the day-after-day training. “I started my professional training from a relatively late age, so upon entering the national team, I was uncertain about my future,” told Xu. “Even though, I was not lost in perplexity. Instead, I seized every moment to hone myself. I have no other choices but to march forward, step by step.” Truly, behind the glory of the world champion is hard-working day in and day out. Step by step, she gradually became who she is today.
“I see a peculiar sportsmanship in Sister Ping,” shared one student who calls Xu ‘Sister Ping’ to express her affection, “that is a kind of champion’s temperament, a sort of perseverance that can always find a way out whenever difficulties are encountered, as well as a kind of self-confidence to achieve champion-level quality in everything.”
SHOU Minchao: Always 10% more efforts
SHOU Minchao is an international-level athlete as well as an international referee of aerobics. He was selected to the national team in 2007 and has won 8 championships in World Aerobic Gymnastics and World Games during his athletic career. In 2020, Shou joined Zhejiang University as an aerobics teacher.
Shou delved into the realm of aerobics as early as 2003, when he was just in his junior two. In 2005, under the guidance of his coach, Shou marched on the path of professional trainings. The following two years witnessed his assiduous efforts which eventually earned him a membership in the second national team of aerobics. When he first joined the team, SHOU was left behind others, but his coach’s words gave him a spur and exerted lifelong influence on him: “It’s not that hard to surpass others, only if you spare 10% more efforts than it is required.”
Since 2020, Shou has been teaching aerobics in ZJU. Beyond the instruction on techniques, he attaches greater importance on practicing the concept of lifelong physical education.”I hope to cultivate in the students the habit of exercise, by which they can hone their muscles as well as will power not temporarily, but in a lifelong span.”